Minute Musings...Out Of Balance

Have you ever been dizzy?  It's not a nice feeling is it!  You try to walk around, but are
unsure of each step you take.  The floor is moving on you, the walls seems to tilt at awkward
angles, and it leaves you feeling shaky, unsure of yourself and sick.  Did you know that you
can be spiritually unbalanced as well?

Luke 10:38 - 40  "Now it came to pass, as they (Jesus and the disciples) went, that He
(Jesus) entered into a certain village;  and a certain woman named Martha received
Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet,
and heard His word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
Bid her therefore that she help me."

In this familiar passage we find Mary and Martha.  It tells us that Martha was "cumbered"
about much serving.  The dictionary describes cumbered as being burdened or hindered.
Basically there was nothing wrong with what Martha was doing.  She was serving the
Lord, seeing to His physical needs, but Martha's focus was out of balance.  She had the
servants heart but was missing the servants worship.  Her fellowship with her Lord was
hindered by her service! 

The Lord showed her the imbalance in her life in verses 41 & 42 of Luke 10, "And Jesus
answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about
many things:  but one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her."  Poor Martha, her heart was in the right place, she
wanted to serve her Lord, but her priorities were out of balance.  Martha put service before
worship.  When you become out of balance, things get mixed up.  You cannot serve properly
if you have not spent time in worship and fellowship with God.

Many people focus on the service and neglect the worship;  it won't going to work. 
Service is expected;  Hebrews 6:10  "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work
and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered
to the saints, and do minister."  God blesses service...but not at the expense of worship.
It's like trying to drive the car without putting gas into it...it will not work!

I'm sure that once Martha received this loving rebuke from the Lord, that she realized
worship must precede service.  I often think of Martha and the wonderful privilege that
she had in being to entertain the Savior.  But in reality those of us who are saved and
name the name of Christ, entertain our Savior everyday!  He is with us, He abides in
us!  As you begin another day, make sure that you have a balanced and healthy
spiritual life, worship, then serve...it's a terrible thing to be out of balance!